Even today—a full 25 years after his passing on December 25, 1995—Dean Martin remains the essence of cool. Whether he was singing, acting, performing standup, or palling around with Frank Sinatra and the rest of his Rat Pack, good times always followed Martin—as did plenty of memorable quips. Here are 15 timeless quotes from the King of Cool.
1. On breaking into show business
“If people want to think I get drunk and stay out all night, let ’em. That’s how I got here, you know.”
2. On drinking
“You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on.”
3. On life
“If this is just the beginning, my life’s gonna be beautiful.”
4. On teetotalers
“I feel sorry for people who don’t drink. When they wake up in the morning, that’s as good as they’re going to feel all day.”
5. On his legendary status
“I don’t mind being a legend.”
6. On family life
“I’ve got seven kids. The three words you hear most around my house are ‘hello,’ ‘goodbye,’ and ‘I’m pregnant.'”
7. On quitting drinking
“I don’t drink anymore … I freeze it and eat it like a popsicle.”
8. On the Rat Pack
“The whole world is drunk and we’re just the cocktail of the moment. Someday soon, the world will wake up, down two aspirin with a glass of tomato juice, and wonder what the hell all the fuss was about.”
9. On motivation
“Motivation is a lotta crap.”
10. On acting
“I can’t stand an actor or actress who tells me acting is hard work. It’s easy work. Anyone who says it isn’t never had to stand on his feet all day dealing blackjack.”
11. On Frank Sinatra
“When he dies, they’re giving his zipper to the Smithsonian.”
12. On drinking and driving
“If you drink, don’t drive. Don’t even putt.”
13. On filing for divorce from his second wife
“I know it’s the gentlemanly thing to let the wife file. But, then, everybody knows I’m no gentleman.”
14. On gambling
“When your opponent’s sittin’ there holdin’ all the aces, there’s only one thing to do: kick over the table.”
15. On his legacy
“I want to be remembered as a damn good entertainer, nothing spectacular. A good entertainer who made people enjoy themselves and made them laugh a little. I want them to think ‘He was a nice guy. He did pretty good and we loved him.'”
